Man Who Killed Cyclist in Ealing Avoids Jail
Van driver who caused death of Frank Cubis guilty of careless driving
'Ghost bike' memorial at scene of collision - image coutesy Peter Gould
48-year-old William Cottrell of Nicholas Gardens, Ealing has been found guilty of causing death by careless driving following the death of local cyclist, Frank Cubis.
The 75-year-old was hit by Cottrell’s flatbed transit van at the junction of Northfield Avenue and Salisbury Road, W13 at around 10am on 25 May 2016.
Mr Cubis, from Perivale, was an enthusiastic cyclist and a popular member of the Kingston Phoenix Road Club. Cottrell stopped at the scene and was not arrested in the immediate aftermath of the collision.
Frank Cubis. Picture: Kingston Phoenix Road Club
London's Air Ambulance attended the scene with their helicopter landing in Lammas Park.
Mr Cubis was taken to a central London hospital where he remained until his death from a head injury on 5 July.
Cottrell was arrested by detectives on 17 July, 2017, for causing death by careless driving. He was sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court on Wednesday, 7 March to 120 hours unpaid work to be completed in the next 12 months and 12 months' disqualification from driving.
Detective Constable Sid Acharya, from the Met's Road and Transport Policing Command, said, "Today's result shows how one quick lapse of attention when you're driving can lead to devastating, life changing results.
"Although Mr Cottrell has not received a jail sentence for his actions, he will forever have to live with knowing that his lapse in concentration has cost a man his life and a family a lot of pain."
A special tribute has been paid to Mr Cubis at the scene of the accident. A so-called ' ghostbike' which is a roadside memorial has been left by a lampost on Dudley Gardens.
Apart from being a memorial, the bike, painted in white, acts as a reminder to passing motorists to share the road.
( images courtesy Peter Gould)
The placard attached to the bike reads..
Frank Cubis.. RIP
Frank, a life-long cyclist was knocked off his bike at this spot on 25th May 2016 and later died from his injuies.
March 9, 2018